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Atlantis Platform System
Automated hydraulic platform system for Morris Water Maze. Rises gently to near-surface or submerges on manual control or TTL signal — no electricity in water. 4 independent channels; 10 cm/sec platform travel; Cat. 40100 (1 platform) or Cat. 40400 (4 platforms). 80–240V controller.
What is the Atlantis Platform System?
The Atlantis Platform System automates the raising and lowering of escape platforms in a Morris Water Maze, eliminating the need to manually remove, relocate, or resubmerge platforms between trials. The system uses a hydraulic mechanism — with no electrical components in the water — to gently raise the clear perspex platform from a fully submerged position to near the water surface, providing an invisible-to-swimming-animals escape point that can be activated instantaneously via manual control or TTL trigger. This capability is essential for probe trial standardization, reversal learning, and cued vs. hidden platform protocols within the same session.
Key Features
- Hydraulic Operation (No Electricity in Water): The platform mechanism is driven by hydraulic pressure controlled from an external power unit, with no electrical components submerged — ensuring complete electrical safety for both animals and researchers.
- TTL and Manual Control: Platforms can be triggered via TTL input from any behavioral control system or manually from the controller front panel, allowing precise integration with electrophysiology, optogenetics, and video-tracking pipelines.
- Clear Perspex Platform: The 10 cm diameter perspex platform is minimally visible when submerged, maintaining the hidden-platform condition while rising reliably to near the water surface on command.
- 4 Independent Channels: The 4-platform system (Cat. 40400) provides 4 independently controllable platform positions, enabling within-session platform transfers for reversal learning without pool interruption.
- Precise Travel Speed: Platforms travel at a controlled 10 mm/sec within a 25–35 cm vertical range, providing a smooth, non-startling rise that does not alter swim path prior to platform contact.
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Technical Specifications
| Catalog Numbers | 40100 (1-Platform System), 40400 (4-Platform System) |
| Platform Diameter | 10 cm (clear Perspex) |
| Vertical Travel Range | 25–35 cm |
| Platform Speed | 10 mm/second |
| Operating Modes | Manual (front panel) or TTL signal input |
| Channels | 1 (Cat. 40100); 4 independent (Cat. 40400) |
| Power Supply | 80–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz |
| Operating Temperature | 10–40°C |
| Weight — 1-Platform | 11 kg |
| Weight — 4-Platform | 30 kg |
| Warranty | 12 months + 12 months post-registration |
Applications
- Morris Water Maze probe trial automation
- Reversal learning and platform transfer protocols
- Cued vs. hidden platform discrimination
- Synchronized electrophysiology and optogenetics experiments
Mazes Tracking
Explore All ProductsMemory and Learning
Explore All ProductsHow does the Atlantis system raise the platform without electricity in the water?
The Atlantis system uses a hydraulic mechanism: external pressure from the controller unit is transmitted through tubing to a piston beneath the platform, which raises it through water displacement. No electrical wiring or components enter the pool, providing complete electrical safety.
What catalog numbers are available?
Cat. 40100 is the complete 1-platform system (11 kg, single channel). Cat. 40400 is the complete 4-platform system (30 kg, 4 independent channels). Both use the same 10 cm clear perspex platform and 80–240V controller.
Can the Atlantis system be triggered by external behavioral equipment?
Yes — the controller accepts TTL inputs from any behavioral control system (e.g., ANY-maze, Med Associates, Ethovision), allowing platform raise/lower events to be synchronized with session start/stop signals, electrophysiology recording timestamps, or optogenetic stimulation triggers.
Is the platform visible to the animal when submerged?
The platform is made from clear perspex and submerged approximately 1–2 cm below the surface in opaque water, making it effectively invisible to swimming animals. This maintains the hidden-platform condition that requires spatial navigation rather than cue approach.
Can the 4-platform system be used to run reversal learning within a session?
Yes — each of the 4 channels controls an independent platform at a different pool position. After acquisition training with one platform raised, researchers can submerge it and activate a platform in a different quadrant without draining or interrupting the pool, enabling within-session reversal learning with precise TTL-controlled transitions.
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